47 The Phoenix [2]
"Haa… Haa…"
After single handedly clearing five floors, Raven took a breather and slumped down on a wall.
Cuts and grazes etched all over his body, causing him to bleed profusely.
"Haa… Haa…"
If he could, he would've chugged down a healing potion to instantly fix himself up.
However, he had long ran out of system coins to actually buy a single potion.
What he opted for now was to wait for Reina and the rest to catch up to him.
Vooosh!
And as if his wishes were granted, a towering inferno spiraled from beneath–just in front of him, leaving a scorched gaping hole on the ground.
From the hole, emerged a familiar figure, adorning a pair of flaming wings that resembled a Phoenix.
Her long pale wheat hair fluttered as her feet landed on the ground. Her flawless facial features immediately registered in Raven's mind despite his vision getting hazy.
"R-Reina…"
Though, despite voicing out a tone in relief, Reina knitted her brows as she locked her gaze with him.
"How reckless."
"Heh."
All Raven could do was flash her a smirk.
He knew how reckless his actions were.
From all the commotion that ensued, there was a high chance that Francis would escape with Amy.
He had to come to her rescue as soon as possible.
In truth, he would've liked it if Brandon were there to assist him, saving Amy together in the process.
But Brandon had already done his part.
It was all up to him now.
Or rather–them.
"Hup!"
And another.
And another…
Until the rest of the Special Force arrived.
They all turned to look at him with a frown.
But Raven had expected it already and shrugged it off.
The first one to approach him was Alexandra, knitting her brows as well.
"Idiot."
She then kneeled down in front of him and placed both of her hands on his chest.
Suddenly a pure white glow illuminated from her hand, and Raven's minor injuries started to disappear.
This continued until most of his injuries were stabilized.
Such was the close relationship of the Special Force members.
In short, they treated each other like family, and Raven was no exception–even if he wasn't a full member.
"Thank you, Alexandra."
"Mhm."
Alexandra flashed him a smile and nodded.
She wasn't one of many words and Raven knew that.
But despite that, Alexandra had a warm personality, and that's what Raven liked about her.
Raven then got up and turned towards the group.
"Guys."
At his call, everyone turned to face him.
"What is it?"
"...Don't you think something feels off?"
Raven walked ahead. They all gave him space as he continued forward, but abruptly stopped and stared at the staircase.
"We've been here for a while now, causing quite the commotion."
"What about it?"
Reina tilted her head, puzzled.
"All the commotion, all the fighting, and yet Francis or Darwin Osborn has yet to stop us."
At his words, all the officers present had their eyes shot wide open.
The realization had dawned upon them.
Raven turned around and met their shocked gazes.
"Are they really here?"
"But Clint said they were. He had never been wrong before."
Drake anxiously retorted.
"What if he was wrong? What if it was an illusion?"
Raven had a point.
It wouldn't be far fetched to say that they could've been had.
But if they were wrong, then there was no other lead.
And…
"That man… What was his name again?"
"If I remember, the witness called her… Mori? Moriarty?"
"I see. But where is he?"
"Maybe on the top floor?"
They were all out of ideas.
Their next course of action was to push through and see the end of the operation.
At that, the group beckoned to the next floor.
Starting from the 42nd floor, it was once again a familiar sight.
However…
What they thought was the same setup was far from what they had imagined.
Making their way to the center of the hallway, they were surrounded from all sides by…
Wraith cultists.
Slurp~
Reina licked her lips.
As soon as she did, Drake's scream echoed the entire hallway.
"N-not again!"
Vooosh—!
A wall of holy flames instantly encircled them.
Reina turned to glance towards them and flashed them a sadistic smile.
"Don't move."
Click– Click—
Striding forward, the clicking of her heels echoed the entire hallway.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Click– Click—
Then…
Vooosh–!
Holy flames protruded from her feet, then her legs, slowly crawling all over her body.
Bang—!
A pair of large Phoenix Wings emerged from behind her, instantly scorching the walls and the collateral damage it ensued.
Flames cascaded all over the hallway, burning any of the poor mages it met.
The mages tried to counterattack, hurling Reina with a barrage of magic.
Yet the flames would act as an armor and instantly dispersed whatever magic was thrown her way.
"Fuck…"
"The Phoenix? She's a walking nuke!"
Raven could hear the rest of the officers converse. While he stared directly at Reina in awe.
It was a familiar sight to him. The power that Reina had.
'I want to catch up to her.'
The halls continued to burn, and no matter what kind of magic they threw at Reina, she didn't spare a single glance in that direction.
All she did was walk forward and…
"Hahahahahahahahaha."
Laughed.
"Fucking sadist."
Drake could only utter those words.
They knew they were only extras whenever Reina was around.
But they didn't mind it.
Despite all the profanity, they respected Reina as she respected them back.
They continued to watch and let the destruction ensue as the sadistic Phoenix burned down the entire place.
"Hahahahahahahaha."
"Hahahahaha."
"Hahahahaha."
At the end of it all, it seemed like all the mages had gathered back on the 42nd floor.
It seemed like segregating their forces didn't work out for them due to Reina.
Yet despite what they did, they eventually met the same fate.
All Drake could utter were the words, 'A walking fucking nuke.'
When they entered the 43rd floor, there were no signs of life.
The same went for the next floor.
And the next…
And the next…
Until they arrived at the 50th floor.
Truthfully, they didn't know just how powerful Francis and Darwin were.
But Darwin was eligible enough to become an Astrea Academy Professor, so he had to be significantly powerful.
While Francis was the head of the Osborn family. Meaning, he should be several times more powerful than Darwin.
At that, the group stood in front of the door.
"This should be the room, right?"
"Yeah, we've checked every room."
Reina stood by the door while Raven answered from behind her.
"Okay, stand back."
The group nodded and took a step back.
At that moment, flames gradually emerged from Reina's hand.
Slowly..
And slowly…
Until..
VOOOOOSH—!